Clasp



Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.

CLASP Application May 26, 1939, Serial No. 275,890

6 Claims.

This invention relates to clasps suitable for securing fabrics and hasfor an object the provision of improvements in this art.

The invention has been developed for holding bed covers for infants butis suitable for holding all kinds of flexible sheet-like fabrics. Itprovides a new and improved clasp which may be very easily manipulated;which will very securely hold the fabrics in position; which is of asimple and sturdy construction; and which will be relatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

One of the important features of the clasp is that it has its partspermanently assembled in such a way that it is not necessary to assemblethem when attaching to a fabric article since they are always ready forclasping and unclasping and this may be accomplished by a simplemovement by one hand, leaving the other hand entirely free to manipulatethe article.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the clasp in open position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the clasp in closed position; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3.

The clasp comprises a body part 10 and a toggle part II operativelyassociated with the body part.

The body part comprises a member Ill which may be formed of stiff wirehaving approximately straight parallel side bars Illa, a first jawmember in the shape of a fabric receiving loop or mouth I01), andreversely bent attaching ends I00. The plane of the loop I0b stands atapproximately right angles to the side bars Mia. The bent attaching endsI0c are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the sidebars. The loop I 017 is preferably bent downwardly sufficient to takethe end of the toggle member, while the ends I 00 are bent upwardly tosome extent.

The toggle part Il may be formed of a plate Ila and a cooperating tongueIIb, preferably formed of stiff wire. The tongue constitutes a secondfabric gripping jaw.

The plate I Ia of the toggle part is formed with curled ends, the lowerone He, embracing the inturned ends Ild of the tongue, and the upper oneHe embracing the out-turned ends I00 of the body member. The uppercurled end is cut away at the center, as shown at H to receive the endsI00 of the body member. The plate Ila is preferably tapered on thesides, being widest at its upper end, and these tapered sides form astop by coming against the inside edges of the body bars I0a when theclasp is in closed position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The points atwhich the parts engage are indicated by the numeral I2.

The tongue Ilb of the toggle part is formed with approximately straightparallel side bars I lg fitting between the side bars I0a of the bodymember, spring loops I Ih embracing the body side bars I0a, and a curvedend Ilk adapted to enter the mouth of loop lb. The tongue end is curvedupward at the end to grip the fabric to the upper sideof the body loopI0b, as shown in Fig. 4.

At the upper end an attaching ring I3 is provided, being hinged by itsinturned ends I3 a to the upper curled endIIe of the plate Ila. A lengthof elastic bandl4 and cloth tapes I5 may be provided for securing theclasp by its ring I3 to the post of a bed or other suitable anchorage.

The spring loops Ilh of the tongue Ilb ride upon the side bars l0a ofthe body member and keep the parts in proper operating position at alltimes, making it unnecessary to direct one part toward'or into theother,. as has been required with previous clasps wherein the fabric ormaterial engaging elements were completely separable from each other.The operator is thereby enabled to devote one hand entirely to handlingthe fabric while the other hand alone can manipulate the clasp. Theparts are so disposed that the tongue IIk approaches the loop I0b whilemoving approximately parallel to the side bars Illa so as to push thefabric F, which is shown in dotted lines, fairly through the loop.Further movement of the tongue is in an upward direction as the uppersides of the spring loops Ilh engage the upper surface of the bars Illaand this clamps the fabric against the upper side of the loop as thehinged center ofthe toggle moves past dead center'position to the finallocking position.

Both the loops Hit and the loop I'Ilb are resilient so that the fabricis resiliently locked in the clasp and the toggle is'resiliently lockedin dead center position so as to avoid accidental release.

The plate Ila of the toggle is accessible from both sides for thefingers and thumb of the operator. The space between the bars I0ais wideenough for the thumb or finger to easily pass through for eitherclamping or releasing the clasp. When the parts are in the fully openedposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the end of the tongue llk is spacedfar enough away from the loop lilb to permit the finger or thumb of theoperator to pass clearly through with the fabric, even where severalthicknesses of sheets or blankets are to be secured. Either the edge ora fold Fl of the fabric may be pushed through the opening. The tonguemember Hb is open, being made as a frame, so that the nails of the thumband finger will stand clear and not be injured during manipulation ofthe clasp. The thumb and fingers are not near parts which snap togetherwhen the toggle is thrown over to looking position and injury from thiscause is also avoided.

In operation, the thumb and index finger of one hand are placed on theplate Ha, the thumb being on top and the finger being underneath. Theends of the thumb and finger may extend over the lower end of the platewithin the tongue member Mb. The index finger of the other hand isplaced beneath the fabric to be clasped and pushes the fabric throughthe opening between the tongue Illa and loop illb, as shown in Figs. 1and 2. Then the toggle plate is pressed down by the thumb as the fingeris withdrawn from the opening, thus leaving a portion of the fabricbetween the end of the tongue and the opening of the loop iiib. Furtherpressure on the plate forces the toggle knuckle through the openingbetween the side bars Illa and this causes the tongue to push a fold ofthe fabric through the loop and bind it against the upper edge of theloop, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As thus secured, the fabric is firmlyheld and will effectively resist attempts to pull it out, particularlysince the hemmed edge of the fabric must pass the clamping parts of theclasp before release can be effected.

In this clamping action the tongue is self threading as the loops Hhslide down the side bars Illa.

For release, the toggle is snapped back to the Fig. 2 position,whereupon the fabric may be readily pulled out.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a very simple, inexpensive,easily manipulated clasp which very securely holds the material to whichit is attached. The parts are always in proper assembly for operation;The clasp is not likely to pinch the fingers or injure the nails of theoperator. The clasp is very thin when closed to clamping position andhas few projections and is unlikely to injure the infant under thecovers. Such projections as are present are broad and round. The grip isover sufficient area to avoid tearing the fabric. Other advantages, usesand features of the clasp will be apparent from the above description ofa specific embodiment;

While one embodiment has been described in detail in order to illustratethe principles of the invention, it is to be understood that theinvention may have various embodiments within the limits of the priorart and the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A clasp for fabrics or the like, comprising in combination, a bodymember having parallel sides and a bent loop at one end, a toggle hingedat one end to the end of the body member opposite the loop, the togglehaving a tongue adapted to enter said loop carrying a thickness offabric with it, and means on the toggle near the tongue slidablyembracing the sides of the body member for guiding the tongue in and outof the loop.

2. A clasp for fabrics or the like, comprising in combination, a bodymember having side bars and a bent loop at the lower end, and a togglecomprising a finger plate and a frame-like tongue member, the platebeing hinged at its upper end to the upper end of the body member andbeing hinged at its other end to the upper end of the tongue member, anupwardly bent tongue at the end of the tongue member, and spring loopson the tongue member near the tongue slidably embracing the side bars ofthe body member.

3. A clasp for fabrics or the like, comprising in combination, a bodymember having parallel side bars and a bent loop at the lower end, and atoggle comprising a thumb plate and a framelike tongue member, the platebeing hinged to the upper end of the body member, the tongue memberhaving a tongue at its lower end adapted to enter the loop and havingspring loopsnear the tongue slidably embracing the side bars of the bodymember, the knuckle of the toggle being sufficiently narrow to swingthrough the opening between the side bars of the body member betweenopen and closed position, and said thumb plate being of a width near itsupper end to engage the side bars to stop the movement of the toggle inlooking position.

A clasp for fabrics or the like, comprising in combination, a bodymember having approximately straight parallel side bars, a downturnedjaw element at its lower end and upturned reversely bent portion at itsupper end, and a toggle hinged to the upturned body member portion atits upper end, having spring loops slidably and retainably mounted onthe side bars near its lower end, and having a jaw element at its lowerend cooperating with the jaw element of the body member.

5. A clasp for fabrics or the like, comprising in combination, aframe-like body member having side bars and a jaw element at its lowerend, and a toggle hinged at its upper end to the upper end of said bodymember, having a jaw element at its lower end, and having means forslidably and retainably connecting it near the lower end at all times tothe side bars of the body member.

6. A clasp for fabrics or the like, comprising in combination, aframe-like body member having side bars and a jaw element at its lowerend, and a toggle hinged at its upper end to the upper end of said bodymember, having a jaw element at its lower end, and having means forslidably and r-etainably connecting it near the lower end at all timesto the side bars of the body member, said body member and toggle beingprovided with interengaging elements which limit the toggle movement inlooking direction.

. JOSEPH E. KRAFT.

JOHANNA BERGNER.

